About Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Elaine Lan Chao is an American politician who is the 18th and current United States Secretary of Transportation. She is a member of the Republican Party.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chao was the first Asian American woman and the first Taiwanese American in U.S. history to be appointed to a President's Cabinet. She served as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, and as Deputy Secretary of Transportation and Director of the Peace Corps under President George H. W. Bush. She spent four years as the president of the United Way of America. On November 29, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Chao to serve as the Secretary of Transportation. She was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 2017, in a 93–6 vote.

Chao is married to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 3, 2015.